Way back in December, the San Diego Union-Tribune, as part of its reporting on [tag]Duke Cunningham[/tag]’s bribery scandal and his relationship with Defense contractor lobbyist [tag]Brent Wilkes[/tag], noted that the lobbyist “ran a [tag]hospitality suite[/tag], with several bedrooms, in Washington.”
Now, one does not necessarily need a dirty mind to wonder why, exactly, Wilkes needed, and presumably used, a “hospitality suite.” As Josh Marshall noted at the time, “After all, what possible need could congressmen and senators and their staffers have for access to private hotel suites near the Capitol registered in someone else’s name?”
Today, the Wall Street Journal helped shed some additional light on the subject.
Federal prosecutors are investigating whether two contractors implicated in the bribery of former Rep. Randall “Duke” Cunningham supplied him with [tag]prostitutes[/tag] and free use of a limousine and hotel suites, pursuing evidence that could broaden their long-running inquiry.
Besides scrutinizing the prostitution scheme for evidence that might implicate contractor Brent Wilkes, investigators are focusing on whether any other members of Congress, or their staffs, may also have used the same free services, though it isn’t clear whether investigators have turned up anything to implicate others. (emphasis added)
In fact, the WSJ noted that the FBI has been “interviewing women from escort services” who may have been involved in the arrangement.
Wilkes’ lawyer has denied his client was involved in procuring prostitutes, but Mitchell Wade, the former head of MZM and Wilkes’ “co-conspirator” who struck a deal with prosecutors, tells a different story.
Mr. Wade in February pleaded guilty to giving bribes of more than $1 million to Mr. Cunningham, including cash, antiques and payment for yachts. Mr. Wade, who hasn’t been sentenced yet, is cooperating with prosecutors. According to people with knowledge of the investigation, Mr. Wade told investigators that Mr. Cunningham periodically phoned him to request a prostitute, and that Mr. Wade then helped to arrange for one. A limousine driver then picked up the prostitute as well as Mr. Cunningham, and drove them to one of the hotel suites, originally at the Watergate Hotel, and subsequently at the Westin Grand.
Mr. Wade told investigators that all the arrangements for these services had been made by Mr. Wilkes and two employees of Mr. Wilkes’s company, according to people with knowledge of his debriefing. He said Mr. Wilkes had rented the hotel suites and found the limousine driver, who had “relationships” with several escort services. Mr. Wade told prosecutors that sometimes Mr. Cunningham would contact him to request these services, and he would pass on the request to Mr. Wilkes or his employees, who then made the actual arrangement. Mr. Wade said that other times Mr. Cunningham called Mr. Wilkes directly to make the requests.
Cunningham, of course, is already going to jail, though the sex angle adds a new wrinkle to his scandal. But of particular interest now, federal investigators are trying to determine whether other members of Congress or their staffs “received services at so-called hospitality suites,” which would further shed light on Wilkes’ alleged corruption. Wade said “he doesn’t know whether Mr. Wilkes may have provided prostitutes or other free entertainment to anyone besides Mr. Cunningham.”
Stay tuned.